Pettrey attended Raceland–Worthington High School and served as quarterback and placekicker. In a September 26, 2003 game at Berea,[3] Pettrey kicked a Kentucky state-record 58-yard field goal.[4] This broke Middlesboro's Dustin Wynn's record of 57 yards,[4] set on October 2, 1998 at Harlan.[5]

Pettrey had his most successful season to date for the Gladiators, making a career high 8 field goals and 106 PATs.[8] He man 3 game-winning field goals,[9] including a 36-yard shot against the Philadelphia Soul as time expired to advance to the American Conference Championship.[10]